Troughing roller assembly and belt conveyor



K. M CANN July 23, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Kefith Mc Cann ATTORNEV @1-1 Filed Dec. 23. 1%?

July 23, 1963 K. M CANN mm mm ww "11' MW w :1 l Dec- 25;

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. By Keith McCann ATTORIVEV 3,%8,557 PatentedJuly 23, 1963 3 Claims. (Cl. 198-192) This invention relates generallyto a 'troughing roller assembly for lbelt conveyors, and particularly toimprovements whereby any dot-raining effect of the conveying reach isminimized.

In belt conveyors of the type where the load on the conveying reach istransferred by means of troughing roller assemblies into laterallyspaced support strands or ropes trained along a conveying course, thedirection of movement of the conveying reach is such as to tend to swingthe troughing roller assembly in the direction of the conveying reach.In cases where the belt is operating downhill, the pendulum elfect ofthe troughing roller assembly, which has its rollers freely articulatelyconnected for movement in a vertical plane, causes the outer wingrollers to have their inner ends swung or canted in the downhilldirection. This canted position of the wing rollers imposes a detrainingeffect upon the conveying reach.

According to the present invention the troughing roller assembly isarranged for movement as a unit in a plane perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the rope strands, and is secured by braclcets atspaced points along the support strand so that the pendent effect in avertical plane is minimized. Moreover, the outer wing rollers of theassembly, which are generally flexibly operaitively interconnected to atleast one intermediate roller, are arranged to have their outer endsshift slightly in the direction of belt movement with respect to theirinner ends, thereby to impose a corrective force component upon theconveying reach to correct for misalignment thereof.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an improvedtroughing roller assembly for a belt conveyor, said assembly beingcharacterized by the ability to improve the alignment of the conveyingreach, whether the conveyor be operated on level terrain or downhill.

Another object is to provide a troughing roller assembly capable offreely articulating in a vertical direction in accordance with the loadthereon, yet capable of having its wing rollers shift in directionscorrective of belt misalignment.

Other objects and important features of the invention will be apparentfrom a study of the specification following taken with the drawingswhich together describe and illustrate a number of preferred embodimentsof the invention and what are now considered to be the best modes ofpracticing the principles thereof.

Other embodiments may be suggested to those having the benefit of theteachings herein and such other embodiments are intended to be reservedespecially as they fall within the scope and purview of the subjoinedclaims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of an improved troughing roller assemblyaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view with parts omitted of a portion of thetroughing roller assembly of FIGURE 1 taken substantially along thelines 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view, to an enlarged scale, of a portion ofFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view, to an enlarged scale, looking inthe direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a detail top plan view, to an enlarged scale, showing aportion of the improved troughi'ng roller assembly according to anotherembodiment of the invention.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the improvedrtroughing roller assembly according to the present invention isindicated generally by the reference numeral 10, and is adapted to besuspended between a pair of laterally spaced support strands or Wireropes 11, which in turn are supported at intervals throughout theirlength upon standards indicated generally by the reference numeral 12.Each such standard includes a pair of laterally spaced feet 13 restingupon a mine floor F, each of the feet having a tubular socket 14extending upward therefrom into which an adjustable post or column 16 isfitted. The upper end of the adjustable post 16 is provided with aU-shaped saddle 17 for the rope strand 11. The position of theadjustable posts 16 in their sockets 14 may be adjusted by means, notshown, so that the saddles 17 are in a common horizontal plane.

The troughing roller assembly 10 is arranged to support the load uponthe conveying reach 18 of an endless belt. A return reach 19 issupported upon a return idler roller 21 turning upon a shaft 22. Theshaft is supported at its ends in brackets 23 extending upward from astrut member 24 which maintains tubular sockets 14 and their telescopingposts 16 in properly spaced relationship.

The troughing roller assembly 16 includes a center load supportingroller 26 turning upon an idler shaft 27, see also FEGURE 2. The shaft27 is pivotally connected to a clevis or pair of links 28 extending froma transverse frame member 29, pins 31 being provided and passing throughthe links 28 and the shaft 27 to complete the pivotal connection.

Frame means for transmitting load on the center roller directly to theflexible strands along a tension path bypassing the wing rollersincludes frame members 32, extending laterally from each end of thetransverse frame members 29, and U-shaped connectors or brackets 33 towhich the outer ends of the frame members are welded. The limbs ofconnectors 33 embrace the strands. As seen in FIGURE 2, the brackets 33extend along the rope strands 11 and are secured thereto by clampingpins or spikes 34 passing through aligned apertures 36 in the upper andlower limbs thereof.

Inclined wing or troughing rollers 37 flank the center or intermediateroller 26. The wing rollers are supported within the two spaced framemembers 32, and turn upon idler shafts 38, the inner ends of which arepivotally connected at 39 between the arms of a clevis 41 extending fromthe transverse frame members 29. The outer ends of the shafts 38 arepivotally connected to pairs of links 42, there being pin connections 43thereto. The other ends of the links 42 embrace a lower limb 44 of theU- shape brackets 33 which supports the outer ends of the wing rollers.A pin 46, extending across an elongated slot 47, connects the links 42into the limb 44.

From the description thus far it will be seen that the troughing rollerassembly 10 is free to move in a vertical plane by reason of the pivotalconnections at 31, and by reason of the resiliency of the rope strands 11 to which the brackets 33 are connected. However, the length of thebrackets 33 along the strands 1'1 and the frame members 32 extendingtherefrom are such as to maintain the center roller substantiallystationary with respect to the strands and to prevent a pendulum-likemovement of the troughing roller assembly in directions along thelongitudinal axis of the conveying reach 18. At the same time, movementin a plane perpendicular to the axis of the rope strands is constrained.The prevention of such pendulum-like action is particularly importantwhere the conveyor is running downhill, which would normally cause thewing rollers 37 to be canted a slight amount at its outer end in anupstream direction, which would tend to detrain the conveying reach 18.

The link and slot connection 42,, 46, 47 at the outer ends of thetroughing rollers 37 t the limbs 44 of the brackets 33 enables the outerends of rollers 37 to shift or swing in a downstream direction, so thatupon misalignment of the conveying reach 18 a corrective component offorce will be exerted thereon tending to realign the conveying reach.The elongated slots 47 enable the wing rollers 37 to move past acentered position and to adopt a position past center to give thecorrective position to the wing rollers 37.

Referring now to FIGURE of the drawings, there is shown an alternateembodiment where the connection of the inner end of the shaft 38 to theclevis 41 is enabled to have a certain amount of endwise movement toaccommodate the canting movement of the rollers 37. The pin 39 at suchconnection is free to move with the shaft 38 in an elongated slot 48 atthe clevis 41. In such alternate embodiment of the invention theconnection of the links 4-2 to the arm 44 is a swiveling one only, andthere is no endwise movement at the pin 46. in other words, the togglingeffect of the wing roller 37 is provided by the connection. at the innerend of the wing roller 37 instead of at the outer end, as seen inFIGURES 2 and 3.

In the embodiment seen with respect to FIGURE 5 the outer end of thewing roller 37 can shift in a downstream direction to provide thecorrective force component as previously described.

This application is a continuation application of applicants priorco-pending application, Serial Number 704,483, filed December 23, 1957,now abandoned.

While the invention has been described in terms of a number ofembodiments thereof, its scope is intended to be limited only by theclaims here appended.

"I claim:

l. A two directional training roller assembly for supporting andautomatically training the conveying reach of a conveyor belt in aflexible strand conveyor of the type in which at least a pair offlexible strands are trained in generally parallel relationship to oneanother along a conveying course, said training roller assemblyincluding, in combination,

at least one intermediate load carrying roller,

at least a pair of wing rollers flanking the intermediate roller, and

means for bypassing the load carried by the intermediate roller aroundthe wing rollers to thereby enable the wing rollers to swing to a belttraining position, said bypassing means including a pair of rigidframestructures for supporting and maintaining the intermediate rollergenerally transverse to the direction of belt travel at all times andsubstantially stationary with respect to the conveyor strandsindependently of the direction of belt travel and independently of theamount of load on the assembly, and for transmitting load from theintermediate roller around the Wing rollers to the strands,

a pair of strand connectors, each strand connector being engageable withan associated strand and secured to a frame structure to thereby preventrelative movement between the strand, connector, and rigid framestructure,

each rigid frame structure including an inner frame member and means forconnecting the end of an adjacent intermediate roller thereto forflexing movement in a generally vertical plane,

and an outer frame member, said outer frame member carrying a strandconnector,

at least one elongated substantially transversely positioned framemember for each rigid frame structure, said transversely positionedframe member being rigidly secured at its inner end to the inner framemember, and at its outer end to the outer frame member,

to thereby provide a rigid tension bypass path from the intermediateroller, through the connecting means, and around the wing roller via therigid frame structure,

a pivot for connecting the inner end of each wing roller to anassociated inner frame member which enables the wing roller to move in aplane generally parallel to the plane of the belt passing thereover,

the means connecting the end of the intermediate roller adjacent itsassociated inner frame member being independent of the pivot connectingthe inner end of the wing roller to, its associated inner frame member,

' and means for connecting the outer end of each wing roller to theouter frame member which enables the outer end of the wing roller tomove downstream with respect to the direction of belt travel so as toexert a training effect on the belt.

2. The two directional training roller assembly of claim 7 1 furthercharacterized in that the means for connecting the outer end of eachwing roller to its associated outer frame member is a link,

the outer pivot of eachlink being movable in a direction generallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the intermediate roller. 3. The twodirectional training roller assembly of claim 1 further characterized inthat the means for connecting the outer end of each wing roller to itsassociated outer .fr'ame member is a link, and i the pivot whichconnects the inner end of each wing roller to its associated inner framemember is movable in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the intermediate roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,773,257 Craggs et a1. Dec. 4, 1956 2,868,355 McCann Jan. 13, 19592,875,886 Lo Presti et a1 Mar. 3, 1959 2,880,851 Salmons Apr. 7, 19592,889,918 Bergmann June 9, 1959

1. A TWO DIRECTIONAL TRAINING ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPORTING ANDAUTOMATICALLY TRAINING THE CONVEYING REACH OF A CONVEYOR BELT IN AFLEXIBLE STRAND CONVEYOR OF THE TYPE IN WHICH AT LEAST A PAIR OFFLEXIBLE STRANDS ARE TRAINED IN GENERALLY PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP TO ONEANOTHER ALONG A CONVEYING COURSE, SAID TRAINING ROLLER ASSEMBLYINCLUDING, IN COMBINATION, AT LEAST ONE INTERMEDIATE LOAD CARRYINGROLLER, AT LEAST A PAIR OF WING ROLLERS FLANKING THE INTERMEDIATEROLLER, AND MEANS FOR BYPASSING THE LOAD CARRIED BY THE INTERMEDIATEROLLER AROUND THE WING ROLLERS TO THEREBY ENABLE THE WING ROLLERS TOSWING TO A BELT TRAINING POSITION, SAID BYPASSING MEANS INCLUDING A PAIROF RIGID FRAME STRUCTURES FOR SUPPORTING AND MAINTAINING THEINTERMEDIATE ROLLER GENERALLY TRANSVERSE TO THE DIRECTION OF BELT TRAVELAT ALL TIMES AND SUBSTANTIALLY STATIONARY WITH RESPECT TO THE CONVEYORSTRANDS INDEPENDENTLY OF THE DIRECTION OF BELT TRAVEL AND INDEPEDENTLYOF THE AMOUNT OF LOAD ON THE ASSEMBLY, AND FOR TRANSMITTING LOAD FROMTHE INTERMEDIATE ROLLER AROUND THE WING ROLLERS TO THE STRANDS, A PAIROF STRAND CONNECTORS, EACH STRAND CONNECTOR BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH ANASSOCIATED STRAND AND SECURED TO A FRAME STRUCTURE TO THEREBY PREVENTRELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE STRAND, CONNECTOR, AND RIGID FRAMESTRUCTURE, EACH RIGID FRAME STRUCTURE INCLUDING AN INNER FRAME MEMBERAND MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE END OF AND ADJACENT INTERMEDIATE ROLLERTHERETO FOR FLEXING MOVEMENT IN A GENERALLY VERTICALLY PLANE, AND ANOUTLET FRAME MEMBER, SAID OUTER FRAME MEMBER CARRYING A STRANDCONNECTOR, AT LEAST ONE ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY TRANSVERSELY POSITIONEDFRAME MEMBER FOR EACH RIGID FRAME STRUCTURE, SAID TRANSVERSELYPOSITIONED FRAME MEMBER BEING RIGIDLY SECURED AT ITS INNER END TO THEINNER FRAME MEMBER, AND AT ITS OUTER END TO THE OUTER FRAME MEMBER, TOTHEREBY PROVIDE A RIGID TENSION BYPASS PATH FROM THE INTERMEDIATEROLLER, THROUGH THE CONNECTING MEANS, AND AROUND THE WING ROLLER VIA THERIGID FRAME STRUCTURE, A PIVOT FOR CONNECTING THE INNER END OF EACH WINGROLLER TO AN ASSOCIATED INNER FRAME MEMBER WHICH ENABLES THE WING ROLLERTO MOVE IN A PLANE GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF THE BELT PASSINGTHEREOVER, THE MEANS CONNECTING THE END OF THE INTERMEDIATE ROLLERADJACENT ITS ASSOCIATED INNER FRAME MEMBER BEING INDEPENDENT OF THEPIVOT CONNETING THE INNER END OF THE WING ROLLER TO ITS ASSOCIATED INNERFRAME MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE OUTER END OF EACH WING ROLLERTO THE OUTER FRAME MEMBER WHICH ENABLES THE OUTER END OF THE WING ROLLERTO MOVE DOWNSTREAM WITH RESPECT TO THE DIRECTION OF BELT TRAVEL SO AS TOEXERT A TRAINING EFFECT ON THE BELT.